Addis Ababa – The Government of Sweden has allocated 79 million Swedish Kronor (around 8 million USD) to support labour migration in Africa. 

With this funding, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union Commission (AUC) will implement the “Labour, Employment and Mobility Actions of the AU/ILO/IOM Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance for Sustainable Development and Integration in Africa (JLMP Lead Project)” project up to March 2025. 

The new JLMP Lead project will contribute to improving the labour migration governance portfolio of the AUC, targeted RECs and MSs, contributing to the sustainable development and integration of the African continent. The AUC, RECs and Member States will be supported with policy development, capacity building, advisory services, advocacy, and technical assistance. Ultimate beneficiaries are African migrant workers and their families.

Sweden has been funding the Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration in Africa (JLMP) since 2018. The JLMP aims to strengthen the governance and regulation of labour migration on the African continent, in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) as well as the African Common Position on the GCM. 

“IOM is very grateful for the continued support by the Government of Sweden of this key initiative, which is building the capacity of the African Union Commission, African Member States, regional economic communities, and social partners to better manage labour migration for economic development in Africa. We will continue working with partners to ensure successful implementation,” said IOM’s Acting Chief of Mission to Ethiopia and Representative to the AU and ECA, Mr Jian Zhao.

Ms Ulla Andrén, Head of the Regional Development Cooperation in Africa, at the Swedish Embassy in Addis Abeba said, “The development of a framework to guide labour migration regulations in African over the past few years has been very positive, although substantial works needs to be done. With this decision, we are pleased to contribute to consolidating and deepening the impact of the earlier support to address the needs of migrant workers, their families and their organizations.” 

For more information, please contact: Eric Mazango at IOM Ethiopia, Tel: +251904645879, Email: emazango@iom.int